5 Practical Tips for Taking Proper Care of Your Dental Implants

The decision to invest in Toronto dental implants was a good one. Now the focus is on making sure those implants are taken care of properly. In many ways, the process will be a lot like taking care of natural teeth. Keep these tips in mind and your implants will look great for many years to come.

Choosing the Right Bristles

Brushing after meals is still an essential part of your daily dental hygiene routine. What may change is the type of toothbrush that you use. Your dentist many recommend that you exchange your current brush with one that has softer bristles. Plaque and other residue accumulates on dental implants in Toronto just like real teeth. The softer bristles are less abrasive while still being sturdy enough to get rid of the buildup.

Toothpaste Matters Too

Just as you may need to switch toothbrushes, a change in toothpaste might be in order. Your dental professional can recommend brands that are less abrasive but still do a great job of keeping the Toronto dental implants clean.

To Floss or Not to Floss

There are two schools of thought associated with flossing after the installation of Toronto dental implants. One approach is to not floss at all. That’s because natural teeth have a protective membrane along the gum line that protects the tissue from being damaged by flossing. There is no such protection once the implants are in place, leading some professionals to recommend the patient stop flossing altogether.

Others recommend flossing, but taking care to not rub the floss along the gum. If you really prefer to keep flossing, consider investing in what is known as a water flosser. These devices use streams of water to remove residue from between the implant caps. A member of the team at the dental implants clinic can show you how to use this kind of device efficiently.

How About Mouthwash?

The good news is that you can continue to use mouthwash after receiving dental implants in Toronto. There is no evidence that rinsing daily with the over the counter product of your choice will harm the implants in any way. Do remember that you should only use warm salt water or the mouth rinse supplied by the dentist in the days immediately after receiving the implants. That’s to ensure your mouth is clean and the healing progresses without complications. After that, feel free to use any mouthwash you like.

Annual Checkups and Dental Cleanings

Even the best dental implants will not free you from the need for annual checkups and cleanings. The team at the dental implants clinic will help you set up a schedule for regular dental visits. During the checkup, the team has the chance to check the condition of the caps, identify any signs of gum disease, and in general make sure everything is fine.

Your new dental implants in Toronto are intended to last for a lifetime. While it’s true that the initial dental implants cost is more than a standard pair of dentures, individual implants or the newer all-on-four solution lasts much longer and is certainly easier to live with day to day. Enjoy those new implants and commit to taking proper care of them. As the years pass, you’ll be glad that you did.